Approved by the Planning Department in 2005 following an agreement to reduce the required income to 80 percent of adjusted median for the 20 percent of units to be designated affordable (already up from the typical 12), development on the 194-unit Mission Gardens at 1880 Mission at 15th is now slated to break ground next spring.
Avant Housing acquired the development in 2009 and was granted a two-year entitlement extension through the fall of 2011. The units will be rentals.UPDATE: With respect to questions about design, we can only point to a rather old (and unfortunately rather small) rendering by Forum Design:
We would, however, be surprised if the design hasn’t changed a bit since. Tipsters?
∙ Avant digs in on housing venture [Business Times]

wood over concrete podium according to the business times. damn…I wish they’d do something a little more expensive at this location. Still, it should be a great project…it’s a perfect place for more rental housing. Bit by bit, the area around 16th and Mission is getting nicer, and this well help.

UPDATE: With respect to the design, we can only point to a rather old (and unfortunately rather small) rendering by Forum Design which has been added above.
We would, however, be surprised if the design hasn’t changed a bit since.

Bit by bit, the area around 16th and Mission is getting nicer, and this well help.
Totally agree. I think that despite the bearish outlook on SF real estate, the Mission area is definitely worth considering. There is so much momentum going forward in the Mission that I think it just might outperform SF as a whole over the next several years.

I am totally excited about this project in my neighborhood.The Mission needs big new projects like this to bring street life to the community, especially this corner. The project across the street also by Forum Design has been a major positive addtion to our area. I like the colors and the modern feel of the building. Let’s hope it gets built.

I am totally excited about this project in my neighborhood.The Mission needs big new projects like this to bring street life to the community, especially this corner. The project across the street also by Forum Design has been a major positive addtion to our area. I like the colors and the modern feel of the building. Let’s hope it gets built.

^ I’m with you clearview. Although the design could be cooler, this corner really needs a new building and new life. I own a rental property nearby. I suppose I would prefer that the units were for sale, as this will be rental competition. And given the large number of units, they will always have a vacancy. Then again, my bldg is a 4 unit Victorian, so perhaps we will attract different clientel. But the key point is that the walk from 15th to 16th on mission will be much improved with this addition, making my building even more desirable. Cool beans!

oh lord. it’s dreadful.
i lived on that block briefly. it will definitely benefit from throwing 100+ units of (presumably) relatively well adjusted people into the demographic mix.
but aesthetically, it’s tragic. especially considering it’s replacing such a historic (if dilapidated) structure.
love that it’s called Mission Gardens. It’s so dense that there’s no way a garden can exist. a garden of palms on the sidewalk?

Outdoor gardens were very popular in San Francisco in the mid-1800’s. There were a handful of others already in the city, but none would ever be as elaborate or popular as Woodward’s. The motto of his gardens was “Education, Recreation and Amusement.” Woodward said many times that he just wanted to provide ordinary folks with education and entertainment.
The property was two large city blocks in size, bordered by Mission, Valencia, 13th and 15th streets. In order to make things more convenient for the visitors, Woodward built a tunnel under 14th Street, allowing people to walk from one block to the other without having to cross an outside street. Admission was 25-cents for adults and 10-cents for children.

“…I own a rental property nearby. I suppose I would prefer that the units were for sale, as this will be rental competition. And given the large number of units, they will always have a vacancy…”
What a selfish attitude! Keep those rents sky high for your greedy self. Keep the market super tight.
Let’s rid the City of low and middle income people.